One of the most inspirational stories in parade history was that of the 230-youth marching band, Nuestros Ángeles de El Salvador. At the last minute, a major portion of their funding fell through and they were short $200,000. Rather than give up the trip, they gave up their airline tickets and left El Salvador on Christmas Day, riding thousands of miles in a caravan of five buses. Costumed in white, they inspired onlookers with their music and their resolve, marching in what seemed to be an angelic triumph.
The floats can be seen “up close and personal” after the parade, in the company of about 150,000 visitors. The entries were lined up for over a mile – it was crowded, but worth it. The intoxicating smorgasbord of floral scents, the inventiveness of the overall designs, and the beauty of the exquisite individual flowers were enough to inspire a soul for another full year.
The State of New Mexico’s 55-foot long entry, Passport to Our World and Beyond, (Fiesta Parade Floats) received the Grand Marshal's Excellence in Creative Concept and Design Award. Celebrating the state’s well-known flying saucer legacy, the float sports three extraterrestrials whose green skin was made from crushed split peas. Former La Cañada-Flintridge resident and theme designer, Dennis Larkins (www.startlingart.com) of Santa Fe, noted that state residents’ responses to the selected theme were passionate and mixed.
According to The Albuquerque Tribune, “In 2006, (NM) entered a float featuring an adobe-style church …In the week after that parade, state officials reported a 16 percent spike from Southern California in inquiries for tourism information in New Mexico, and the Tourism Department's Web site was visited 42 percent more (often) in the first two months of 2006 than (in) the previous year. Tourism officials consider the parade – which is watched by millions of Americans – a prime opportunity to draw more visitors to the state. (New Mexico Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti) pointed out that a full-page, color ad in a major magazine can run up to $90,000 while this year's float cost upward of $180,000, with at least $75,000 of it covered by sponsors.”[1]
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
